Wakeboard and kiteboard with curved fins and methods of use
A water floatation board includes a pair of curved side fins for an increase in holding power of the board when in the matter, and without increasing drag during board use. Each curved side fin has a concave surface that faces a centerline of the board, and a convex surface that is opposite of the concave surface. The inner and outer surfaces merge to form leading and trailing edges, and a fin tip. The use of the concave surface allows the fin area to increase without an increase in fin depth, thus providing greater holding power without increasing drag.
1 - 10 . canceled.
11 . In a wakeboard having at least a pair of side fins extending from a bottom surface of the board, the improvement comprising each side fin having a concave surface generally facing a centerline of the board, and a convex outer surface opposite the concave surface, the inner and outer surfaces merging into a leading edge, a trailing edge and a tip, wherein each of the concave and convex surfaces of each side fin follow a curved profile when viewed from the leading or trailing edge, the curved profile extending from a tip of the side fin to a point where the side fin meets the bottom surface of the board.
12 . The wakeboard of claim 11 , further comprising a center fin disposed between the pair of side fins.
13 . The wakeboard of claim 11 , further comprising a pair of side fins mounted on each end of the wakeboard.
14 . The wakeboard of claim 13 , further comprising a center fin mounted between each pair of side fins
15 . In a kiteboard having at least a pair of side fins extending from a bottom surface of the board, the improvement comprising each side fin having a concave surface generally facing a centerline of the board, and a convex outer surface opposite the concave surface, the inner and outer surfaces merging into a leading edge, a trailing edge and a tip, wherein each of the concave and convex surfaces of each side fin extends from an edge of the side fin that meets a bottom surface of the board to the tip, wherein each of the concave and convex surfaces of each side fin follow a curved profile when viewed from the leading or trailing edge, the curved profile extending from a tip of the side fin to a point where the side fin meets the bottom surface of the board.
16 . The kiteboard of claim 15 , further comprising a center fin disposed between the pair of side fins.
17 . The kiteboard of claim 15 , further comprising a pair of side fins mounted on each end of the kiteboard.
18 . The kiteboard of claim 17 , further comprising a center fin mounted between each pair of side fins.
19 . In a method of pulling a wakeboard through water using a watercraft, the improvement comprising pulling the wakeboard of claim 11 by the watercraft.
20 . In a method of pulling a kiteboard through water using windpower, the improvement comprising pulling the kiteboard of claim 15 by the windpower.